How to Grow Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) and Key Points to Note

Watering tips:

For Chinese evergreen, aside from keeping the potting soil moist in summer, watering should not be too frequent in spring and autumn, and watering should be controlled in winter. Chinese evergreen has fleshy roots, so it fears waterlogging most; if watered too much, the roots rot easily. But the air must be kept humid; if the air is dry, problems such as dry leaf tips easily occur. In dry seasons, take care to spray water around the plant to increase air humidity.

Repotting the soil:

When potting Chinese evergreen, first place a 2-3 cm thick layer of coarse-grained substrate or clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as a base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, then cover with another layer of substrate about 1-2 cm thick, and then place the plant in, keeping the fertilizer separate from the roots to avoid burning the roots.

The above covers how to grow Chinese evergreen and the key points to note. Below, let us introduce how to propagate Chinese evergreen by division.

How to Grow Chinese Evergreen: Growing Methods and Key Points to Note

Chinese evergreen is a plant grown for its foliage; its leaves are fairly large and stay green year-round, and it also has some air-purifying benefits. It is precisely for this reason that it attracts many people to grow it. Before growing it, though, what everyone cares about most is surely the growing techniques; only by mastering them can you ensure its healthy growth.

How to Grow Chinese Evergreen

1. Humidity: Chinese evergreen likes a humid climate environment and requires the relative air humidity of the growing environment to be 60-75%.

2. Temperature: Chinese evergreen likes a warm living environment and is not cold-tolerant; the overwintering temperature should be kept at 5°C to 8°C or above for normal growth. For the three varieties Aglaonema commutatum, Aglaonema commutatum 'Variegatum' and Aglaonema pictum, the suitable overwintering temperature should not be lower than 18°C.

3. Light: Chinese evergreen likes semi-shade, is extremely shade-tolerant, and fears direct sunlight; it can be grown and cared for indoors year-round, and even in a place with overly dim light it will not grow leggy like other plants. Avoid strong direct light in summer; when the light is strong, it easily causes dry leaf tips, scorched edges, or even yellowing and withering, affecting the ornamental effect. Therefore, after moving it outdoors in early spring, it should be shaded.

How to Grow Chinese Evergreen

1. Soil: Chinese evergreen is not strict about soil, but it fears waterlogging; whether grown in the ground or in pots, Chinese evergreen dislikes hard clay and alkaline soil. Potted Chinese evergreen is generally potted up in a mixed soil of leaf mold plus sand; in the south it can be grown in pots or in the open ground, while in the north it needs to be grown in a greenhouse. It is best to change the soil once a year and change the pot once every 2 years, and to promptly replenish fresh growing medium to ensure the growth of Chinese evergreen.

2. Watering. For Chinese evergreen, aside from keeping the potting soil moist in summer, watering should not be too frequent in spring and autumn, and watering should be controlled in winter. Chinese evergreen has fleshy roots, so it fears waterlogging most; if watered too much, the roots rot easily. But the air must be kept humid; if the air is dry, problems such as dry leaf tips easily occur. In dry seasons, take care to spray water around the plant to increase air humidity.

3. Fertilizing. In spring and autumn, apply decomposed cake fertilizer water once every 3-4 weeks, which can make the plant grow robustly with green leaves. During the growing period, apply a liquid fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer once every two weeks.

4. Pruning. If the Chinese evergreen plant is too tall and its shape is poor, you can keep 1-2 nodes and then cut it back short; the newly sprouted plant will grow even more vigorously. The cut branches with tips can be placed directly in a water bottle for viewing, and after about 30 days white tender roots can grow. In addition, around the Start of Summer, several old leaves on the outer part of the mature plant should be cut off to facilitate the sprouting of new buds and new leaves and the production of flower stems.

Key Points to Note for Chinese Evergreen

When potting Chinese evergreen, first place a 2-2 cm thick layer of coarse-grained substrate or clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as a base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, then cover with another layer of substrate about 1-2 cm thick, and then place the plant in, so as to keep the fertilizer separate from the roots and avoid burning the roots.

Pest and Disease Control for Chinese Evergreen

1. Brown soft scale. Generally, in the early stage of a brown soft scale infestation, when there are relatively few pests, you can directly scrape off the pests, but after the nymphs hatch, you need to spray pesticide to kill them; generally you can use a 1000-fold dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate or a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate for spraying and killing.

2. Anthracnose. The occurrence of anthracnose is mainly caused by poor ventilation, so during care ventilation needs to be strengthened, and scale insects must be controlled. In the early stage of the disease, you can spray a 800-fold dilution of 60% zineb or a 1500-fold dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl for control.

The growing methods for Chinese evergreen can start with its growth habits. When growing it, be sure to pay attention to light; when the light is strong in summer, be sure to provide shade. During cultivation, it is also necessary to strengthen work on fertilizer and water, pests and diseases, and other aspects.

Key Points to Note for Growing Chinese Evergreen at Home

Key Points to Note for Growing Chinese Evergreen at Home

Chinese evergreen, also known as Aglaonema: it likes warmth and humidity, is strongly shade-tolerant, fears dryness, fears direct strong light, and is slightly cold-tolerant; keeping the indoor temperature above 5°C in winter is enough for it to overwinter safely. It likes loose, fertile growing medium; sticky potting soil causes root rot, so it is best to use leaf mold plus a small amount of river sand. It likes compound liquid fertilizer richer in nitrogen and potassium; in summer high temperatures it needs more water, in spring and autumn watering should follow the wet-dry cycle, and in winter watering should be restrained.